Lips crashed over mine, swallowing my final cries as the last aftershock swept over me. Xander took his place between my splayed thighs, having removed his boxers. I bit my lip as I caught sight of his large cock. “Xander.” I hesitated.
He smirked, kissing me again. “We’ll go slow.” He took his erection in hand, dragging the head through my slick folds, teasing my clit as I shuddered. An elbow planted next to my head, he leaned more of his weight down on me as he slowly entered my center.
My walls stretched, burning as he slowly sank his way inside. “You okay?” He breathed, his forehead against mine. At my nod of agreement, his hips drew back then forward, sinking in another inch, my hips arching into his at the feeling of fullness he was already creating within me.
“More, Xander. I need more.” My nails clawed at his back, the burn within me climbing higher as he penetrated me further. With a final shallow thrust, he was fully buried inside me and held still, allowing me to adjust to his length and girth. His fingers clutched my hair, dragging my head back and baring my neck for his mouth.
“Fucking perfect.” His teeth bit deeply before releasing quickly, marking me, claiming me. I clenched my thighs around his hips, digging my heels into the muscles of his ass, arching my pelvis, trying to get him to move.
His answer was to chuckle softly against my skin before his length slipped almost completely out of me before slamming back inside. I screamed in response, clinging to his back, my nails scoring his back so deeply I’m sure I was drawing blood. His pelvis kept a punishing rhythm, thrusting in rapid succession that had my eyes rolling into the back of my head from the sheer pleasure.
Reaching down between our sweat soaked bodies, his thumb found my clit, strumming it in time to his thrusts. My climax shot through me like lightning, his name leaving my mouth on a scream as my vision darkened. Xander slammed against my hips, his nails digging into the soft flesh of my waist as he climbed to his peak. A deafening roar echoed through the room as I felt his hot seed release inside me.
Our bodies continued to move, shifting slightly to the aftershocks as we kissed gently, sweetly in the wake of our frantic lovemaking. “My Rashka,” He whispered as he swept the strands of damp hair from my brow. A shiver ran down my spine at the word. I didn’t know what it meant, but every time he had said it, my heart melted.
“Xander,” I replied as my lips met his, our tongues softly mating, lazily exploring each other’s mouths. I winced as he pulled his still semi hard cock from my body, before he rolled to his back, taking me with him and tucking me against his side.
“Are you okay, Rashka?” He asked, tilting my chin up, thumb stroking softly over my cheekbone.
The lazy smile spread over my face as I took inventory of my body. I was sure I would be sore soon, but for right now, I just felt deliciously sated and ready for sleep. Ready to escape the outside world and enjoy my time in the arms of my Dragon Prince. “Perfect.” I sighed as I drifted off into a restful sleep.
Fire consumed me, swallowing me whole as I stared up into the flames coming out of the black dragon towering above me. Brilliant sapphire eyes I now knew intimately, narrowed at me as I burned, my screams echoing for a moment before ceasing abruptly.
“Aleria!” Xander shouted, shaking me awake, concern dripping from his tone. “Wake up, you were having a nightmare.” He caressed my face as I blinked up at him, the scream of terror still lodged in my throat.
“Fire,” I muttered, turning away from him, trying to pull away. “Burning.” I probably wasn’t making any sense to him, but my brain still hadn’t fully grasped that it was awake yet.
Rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, playing across my body. My eyes tried to adjust to the light. It was already morning? My arms wrapped around my middle, trying to stop the crawling sensation on my skin. “Make it stop.” I moaned in pain, my nails scratching at my flesh.
Xander’s eyes went wide as he looked down at me, securing my wrists beneath his. “Stop, Aleria. You’re hurting yourself. It was just a dream.” His tone was soothing, penetrating through the fog within.
I blinked as awareness washed over me, the strange sensation traveling along my skin torturing me.” Xander, my skin. It burns!” I bit out, fighting his hold.
“It might be a side effect of the hormone,” he confessed, “I don’t know. Damn it.” He roared, the sound so fierce and loud that the pictures on the walls rattled with the force of it. His face was contorted with rage and a mixture of concern as he looked over me.
“Sh-Shower?” Now my teeth were chattering. It was like the night before, but this time there was no deep-seated arousal behind it. He gathered me into his arms, his skin against mine easing the stinging sensation. I rubbed against him seeking relief from the discomfort.
“Touching you helps,” I brushed my cheek against his neck, my chest against his, sighing in contentment. The warmth of his bare golden skin under my fingers made my heart beat faster, but soothed the ache.
“It has to be the bond.” He muttered, shuffling me in his hold as he adjusted the taps for the walk-in shower. I yelped as the water cascaded across my skin, before the temperature heated and the lukewarm water felt heavenly against my flushed skin. He placed me carefully along the tiled bench and knelt before me.
“I was able to call Drake through our telepathic connection. He should be here in a few minutes. We have to try and figure out what is causing this.” His palms ran up and down my arms, spreading the warmth of the water along my skin. “Shit.” He cursed, laying his forehead against mine as the shaking slowed. “I’m so sorry, little one.”
“It’s getting better.” My fingertips grazed along the droplets covering his shoulders, fascinated by the path they were taking downwards on his naked body. My tongue peaked out and traced a stray drop along his chin, causing a shudder to run through him.
“Tell me how you are feeling other than the shaking?” He pulled away slightly, separating our bodies and breaking the spell I was under. I blinked up at him, taking inventory of how I was physically feeling.
“Sore.” My cheek pinkened, thinking of our activities last night and how wonderful he made me feel. “Muscles I didn’t even know existed ache. I feel itchy, like something is trying to crawl out of my skin. I’m hot, but cold.” Flicking my wet hair over my shoulder, I continued, “Being close to you helps.”
He pulled down a bottle of shampoo and squirted a small dollop into his hand before massaging it into my scalp. I sighed, leaning back into his magic touch. “What was your nightmare about? Do you remember?” He asked gently, not pausing his ministrations. He pulled down a handheld wand and carefully rinsed the suds from my hair.
I swallowed, hesitant to tell him. “A dragon burned me alive.” I confessed, my voice a low whisper, barely heard over the sound of the shower.
“What?!” He roared again, making me wince at the anger in his voice.
“Xander, what the fuck is going on in there?” The voice I recognized as his twin brother echoed through the bathroom. Xander shielded me with his body, hissing as he stood in front of me.
“Drake, get out of the bathroom immediately.” He bit out through clenched teeth. I heard Drake’s answering laughter as he shut the door gently behind him.
Xander turned to face me again, taking my hand in his and laying it against his chest. “We are not done discussing this dream. Are you feeling well enough that you can finish showering on your own?”
I nodded in response. His lips parted in a small smile before he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and departed the large shower stall. The breath I had been holding inside my lungs left in a loud exhale as I leaned my head against the cool tile wall.
Chapter 10
Xander
Drake arched an elegant midnight brow at me as I departed the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my waist, my wet hair slicked back and water dripping down my back. He looked as if he wanted to start in on his teasing but was holding back purely based on the mu
rderous expression I was sure I had on my face.
“Did you consult with Pateros?” I bit out, sweeping across the room to the closet to retrieve some clothing.
“I did, but he doesn’t have a clue. Human physiology is so much different than our own, we may just have to wait and see. Although, we both agreed that a full physical and blood work should be done to ensure that she is healthy and there are no significant changes to her body.”
Slipping on shorts and a tee shirt, I rubbed my hand across my face as I thought over his words. “Damn it, Drake. I didn’t even think when I kissed her. It was pure instinct.” To be honest, I wasn’t sure I would have been able to resist the urge. She was too tempting, too beautiful, too perfectly mine.
His eyes shimmered as he looked at me, the pity evident, but underneath it was a hint of jealousy. Every dragon dreamed of meeting their mates as soon as they reached maturity. Existence could be lonely without the other half of your soul. “I know, Xander. I felt it through you. There was nothing more you could have done.” He laid a hand on my shoulder in a gesture of comfort. “You tried to run away, but we had to call you back.”
“Do you think the hormone will have a damaging or lasting effect on her? Honestly, Drake?” My voice was hollow, my mind going to all sorts of crazy scenarios that involved Aleria dying because she was my dragon mate. I would never be able to live with myself if I caused her any harm, even indirectly. I hardly knew her, but yet our souls were already connected on such a deep level.
Drake shook his head in response. “The humans are compatible with us on every level. I can’t imagine that there would be such an issue that it would cause any damage.” He sighed, kicking out a chair before sitting down heavily. “We are the last of the Black Dragonkyn.” He said, stating the obvious, but trying to lead me somewhere.
“Your point?”
He chuckled, “Biology may be accelerating matters within her body to prepare her to produce your children.” He pointed out. Damn Drake and his scientific mind. Outwardly he may be a sarcastic asshole, but he had genius level intelligence.
Even though we were only fifteen when we arrived on Earth, we immediately began to study culture, sociology, science and medicine. Drake gravitated towards the latter two, and within the ten short years had grown to be one of our top scientists despite our age.
“There is no way in hell that is going to happen!” Aleria shrieked, stepping out of the bathroom, the towel wrapped tightly around her shapely body. Her face bore a mask of fury and anger.
Drake leveled a withering look at her. “You may have no choice in the matter, dear sister. The hormone running through your system may spur your reproductive cycle and drive you into heat. You will remain in a constant state of pain and arousal until you are impregnated.” His words were said in complete confidence, without regard to her swirling emotions.
“No, I refuse to believe that.” She held her chin high even as I saw the tears that formed in her eyes.
“We need to do further tests, sister. I think it best you don’t have any physical contact until we know the results.” Drake said, his face a grim mask.
I hated that he had to say the words, but until we had a better idea of what we were working with, they were necessary. He was right, although I wasn’t going to admit it out loud.
She nodded. “I need some clothes, please.” She said softly, her gaze not meeting mine, still glued to the floor. Her jaw was clenched tightly along with her fists, her expressive face not holding back any of her emotions.
“Of course,” I nodded at her, retrieving a pair of shorts with drawstrings I knew she could tie to fit as well as one of my tighter shirts. The thought of her in my clothes made every possessive fiber of my being catch fire at the thought. Her eyes still refused to meet mine as she snatched the clothes from my hand and retreated to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
“So, brother, you seem to be handling this well.” Drake covered his mouth with his palm to stifle the laughter that threatened to leave him.
“Sod off, this is your fault.” I grumbled. If he had been a little more delicate with his theories, maybe she wouldn’t be freaking out right now.
“Have her in my lab in thirty minutes and we can get started with the tests.” I nodded in approval and Drake left quietly.
Sucking a harsh breath into my lungs and exhaling deeply, I knocked softly on the door. “Aleria, can I please come in?” I said, my voice low and soothing.
“No.” The muffled response tore at my heart. My dragon wanted to roar and tear down the door.
“We need to talk, please. Can I come in or will you come out?” I laid my forehead against dark wood of the door.
My hands clenched into fists as her muted sniffles hit my ears, followed by haste shuffling around in the cabinets. Damn, I was really messing all of this up. I stepped back as I felt the handle move. Looking down at her red rimmed eyes I felt the pain radiating from her aura and my heart seized in my chest.
I gathered her into my arms without thinking of the consequences, trying to soothe her with my touch. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world to do. “Drake said we shouldn’t be touching.” She whispered, her hands clinging to the cotton fabric of my shirt, contradicting the words she just uttered.
“Drake likes the sound of his own voice, so he talks constantly. Pay him no mind, I never do.” I rubbed my chin on the top of her head, savoring the feel of her in my arms. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes.” She said simply.
“I’ll need a little more than that sweetheart.” I took a step back and lifted her chin up with my thumb and forefinger, making her gaze meet mine.
She gasped, seeing the intensity in my eyes, and expanded upon her answer. “The burning and tingling sensations have stopped. I’m not quite so sore and I don’t feel like I am going to tackle you, so I think that is a vast improvement.”
Oh, this woman and her wit. I laughed deep in my belly, my thumb lingering on her cheek before fully disengaging myself from her. My expression turned serious as I began to speak, “Aleria, I am not going to apologize for claiming you as my mate because I wouldn’t be being honest. I will apologize for the manner in which I did so, though. You should have had a choice. I took that away from you.”
Aleria just gaped at me, her mouth hanging open as I said the words. “Well, I guess that is better than nothing.” She muttered, wrapping her arms around her middle.
“I value honesty above all else, Aleria. I will always be truthful with you, even if I know it is something that may displease you.” It was a Dragonkyn principle, a matter of honor. We must be honest and trustworthy to each other in order to make our society work amongst the humans.
She blanched, her face drained completely of blood and she looked as if she was about to collapse. “Are you okay, what happened?” Concern dripped from my tone as I made a move to grab her.
A raised hand and shaking head stopped me before I could touch her. “No, I’m fine. It was nothing.” Her voice was hoarse, the words dragged out of her throat with considerable effort. “Let’s go see Drake so we can see what is going on with me.”
Aleria
When he uttered those words, my heart shattered. How was he going to react when he found out who my family was? I wasn’t going to be able to keep the secret from him for very long, but I had to keep firm on my path to save Sariah. My sister was everything. Yet, why did the thought of that leave me in such shambles?
What was going to happen to me once I retrieved this silly artifact and gave it to my father and uncle? I knew Dragonkyn matings were for life, but what happens when one partner wanted out?
That was a ludicrous notion; matings were fated and no one wanted out.
Xander would surely want out once he found out what I had to do and who my family was.
My body had finally settled down, my heart rate returning to normal, and my skin no longer felt as if a million insects were biting me. The memories of the
dream still haunted me and Xander’s reaction was troubling. I hardly knew the man, but already I was so in sync with him. Of course, I had known all about Dragonkyn matings from the TV shows, but they had never spoken of them having this level of intensity so quickly. My soul yearned for him.
He led me out into the hallway, making sure our bodies didn’t touch. The silence was deafening. I took in my surroundings as we made our way through the house. To say that this was a mansion was putting it lightly. The Black Dragon King and Princes lived in a home that was designed with luxury in mind. The hallway had chair rail height wood paneling, crown molding and expensive paintings that were expertly hung on the wall with placards and lighting. There were busts of famous philosophers and poets, statues of Greek gods and goddesses.
“Your house is like a museum,” I uttered in awe. Of course, I had come from a family of wealth and privilege, but this was beyond anything I had seen before.
He rolled his eyes, “It is all a status symbol. Drake and I hate it. Father says it is necessary to try and impress people, to seem like we fit in and belong, but it just seems fake to me,” he said simply as he looked around the room, taking in the various expensive items, his lip curling in disgust.
“We discovered early on after we arrived here that humans believed royalty to behave in a certain way and in order to blend in, we had to assimilate to that behavior. Our people know our real intentions, but the house is merely one of those ways we present ourselves to the world.”
I stopped and turned towards him, cocking an eyebrow with a hand on my hip, questioning him with my gaze. “What are you talking about?” His cryptic musings were confusing to me.
Xander laughed. “In Dragonkyn culture, while the Black dragons rule, we don’t really view ourselves as superior in anyway. We share our wealth, food and shelter with all. The Black dragons have ruled simply because we have been the most powerful, in the best position to defend and support our people.”
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